Uptown artist creates large-scale CTA map

The CTA has never looked so good. An Uptown artist plans to unveil a large-scale oil painting of a CTA service map Thursday.

Jeffrey Littleton of the Uptown Arts Center said he spent 150 hours on the 8-foot-by-5-foot piece, which will be displayed for about two weeks starting Thursday at 4101 North Broadway. A reception at that space will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday.

"I like the rail maps," said Littleton, a Red Line rider. "[The CTA] is like the connective tissue for Chicago."

Littleton, 46, said he was inspired to paint his piece after seeing a political map that showed voting patterns using colored blocks. He thought it would be interesting to do the same for the CTA service map.

Littleton said he plans to submit a proposal to create art at the Wilson stop, which will undergo an overhaul next year.

A meeting about art for the Wilson stop will be held 6 p.m., Tuesday at Weiss Memorial Hospital Auditorium, 4646 N. Marine Dr.

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